The scoreboard is where games are officially won and lost, but they are largely decided by the team that wins the battles of yards per pass, yards per carry, penalty yards lost, first downs, and turnovers. For this reason, RealGM executive editor Christopher Reina created the following formula called the ?Trench Counter? to look at which teams truly control the game: (2x Yards per pass) + (2x Yards per carry) + (.5 First downs) - (Penalty yards/10) - (2.5 Turnovers) - (Opposing Team's Trench Counter) Click here for more information on the Trench Counter For the 2008 season, our weekly team rankings will be based solely off this formula. 1. New York Giants: 9.9 The Giants may not have the undefeated record that the Titans possess, but they have been more dominant than any other team this season. New York is fifth in yards per game on offense and have allowed the third-fewest yards on defense. 2. Philadelphia Eagles: 9.1 Thanks to three-straight wins, the Eagles have been neck-and-neck with the Giants for first place in these rankings for the better part of the last month. This weekend?s head-to-head battle will give the winner a significant advantage after Week 10. 3. Pittsburgh Steelers: 7.5 Pittsburgh was impressive in their win over Washington on Monday night, but they?ll need their best performance of the season this weekend against Indianapolis if Byron Leftwich is starting at quarterback. 4. Tennessee Titans: 6.0 Many people are waiting for the Titans to lose their first game of the season, and the defensively-minded Bears could have a shot at Soldier Field this Sunday. Tennessee has scored more rushing touchdowns than any other team this season (15) while Chicago is only allowing 81.8 yards per game on the ground. 5. Washington Redskins: 6.0 The Redskins are the third NFC East team in the top-five this week despite their drubbing at the hands of the Steelers this past Monday night. They will rest this weekend in hopes of bouncing back against the Cowboys in Week 11. 6. Atlanta Falcons: 6.0 The Falcons posted the highest Trench Counter of the season (31.3) against the Raiders in Week nine and will look to extend their run against the Saints this Sunday. Atlanta has the league?s top rushing attack (34.5 attempts, 163.4 yards per game). 7. Miami Dolphins: 5.7 Look for the Dolphins to increase their season Trench Counter average this week when they battle the Seahawks in South Beach. 8. Carolina Panthers: 4.3 The Panthers are back to their defensive ways, limiting teams to less than 300 yards per game (294.4) through their first eight contests. That doesn?t bode well for the Raiders, who will host Carolina this weekend. 9. Minnesota Vikings: 4.2 The Vikings cut down the surging Texans in Week 9, giving them a much-needed victory. Minnesota has the sixth-best rushing offense in the NFL but could jump in the rankings with a very motivated, and healthy, Adrian Peterson in the backfield. 10. Baltimore Ravens: 4.1 Joe Flacco continues to impress in Baltimore, who feature a dynamic rushing attack spear-headed by Willis McGahee, Le?Ron McClain, and Ray Rice. 11. Arizona Cardinals: 3.5 The Cardinals are running away with the NFC West through the first half of the season and moved up in the rankings, thanks to a strong +24 Trench Counter against the Rams this past Sunday. 12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2.6 Tampa Bay got past Kansas City, thanks to some late-game heroics by Jeff Garcia, but it?s their ball-hawking defense (16 turnovers) that has helped carry them to a 6-3 record. 13. Chicago Bears: 2.3 The Bears were almost the first team to fall at the hands of the lowly Lions in Week 9, but they came away with a victory, nonetheless. The fate of Chicago?s season will likely rest in the hands of Rex Grossman with Kyle Orton hobbling around. 14. New York Jets: 1.5 The 5-3 Jets are a scary team in the deep AFC East because they have won three of their last four games despite below-average play from ?savior? Brett Favre. 15. San Diego Chargers: 0.5 The fate of San Diego?s season will rest on the result of their game against Kansas City in Week 10. The Chargers, with perhaps the best quarterback in the NFL?s first half, should roll over the Chiefs. Click For More: